Colin stood across from them, watching. This time, they weren’t at the bar—they were in Daniel’s house. Jasper and Daniel sat on the couch, staring into nothing, while Colin perched on a high stool in front of them, studying their faces like a scientist.
“You two look like you’ve lost it, and if you don’t tell me why soon, I’m outta here, and you won’t see me again. What’s going on? Is it because of that Emma?”
“No, brother,” Jasper said, not even looking at him.
“Then what?” Colin threw his hands up. “Why’d you call me here? Did something happen?”
“We just wanted to talk to someone, Colin. That’s it,” Daniel replied.
“You could’ve at least grabbed some drinks.”
“There’s booze in the cabinet. Listen, Colin, something weird happened today.”
“How serious is it? Gonna need cash?”
“You remember the park we went to?”
“The one with the robots? Yeah.”
“Jas, you think it’s okay to tell him? Isn’t it too soon?”
“No, brother. Colin’s one of us. He needs to know everything. Something might happen tomorrow.”
“I don’t get what you’re talking about, but now I’m worried about you guys. Are you sure everything’s okay? Should we call the cops?” Colin glanced between them. “Unless you’re running from them? Did you do something?”
Jasper waited for Daniel to answer, but he didn’t. So Jasper took over.
“Brother, you know about the park, right?”
“Yeah, I got that. What about it?”
“With the robots.”
“And?”
“Turns out they’ve been set loose.”
“Set loose what? Speak clearly!” Colin was getting agitated. “What’s been set loose?”
“In our world, brother. There are robots.”
“Robots? That’s not surprising.”
“It’s not? We’re talking real robots, Colin. Flesh and blood on the outside, iron guts on the inside. Look at me. This is what a robot looks like. Like me. But inside, it’s metal. And you can’t tell except for…”
“Except for what?”
“Except for the black gloves. Their hands are cold. The fluid doesn’t reach there.”
“Interesting. And you’re saying there are robots like that among us already? That’s awesome.”
Both of them stared at him. Daniel picked up the thread.
“Not many, but there are some. And they’re creeping in more and more.”
“The world’s moving forward, guys. That’s normal.”
“Normal? You just don’t know…”
“Well, yeah. What’d you expect? Sure, it’s a bit shocking to hear it like this, but in the end, humanity’s always known it’d get to this point. And if we believe the movies, they’ll take over eventually.”
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Colin tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but neither Daniel nor Jasper bit. His smile faded too.
“Okay, boys, I’m getting fed up. Time to cheer this place up.” Colin made his way to the cabinet where he knew Daniel kept the alcohol and pulled out a bottle. “Wow, it’s pretty dry in here,” he said, eyeing the shelves. “You’ll need to restock soon.”
He grabbed two glasses and set them in front of them, pouring carefully with a wide grin. He poured one for himself too.
“Well?”
Neither reached for their glass.
“I’ll smash this bottle on the floor and leave if you don’t start talking. You’re wasting my time. There’s something you’re hiding.”
“No, brother. We’re not hiding anything. It’s just… there’s more,” Daniel said.
“I can tell that from your faces.”
“Barnes wants us to work for him.”
“Who the hell is Barnes?”
Jasper leaned forward, grabbed his glass from the table, and downed it in one go.
“Now we’re talking,” Colin said, perking up. He refilled Jasper’s glass and topped off his own.
“Hugo Barnes owns the company with the robots. He wants us to work for him,” Daniel explained.
“Doing what? As robots?” For Colin, it was still a joke.
They both glared at him.
“Okay, clearly you’re not laughing, but I really don’t get it.”
“It’s not about what we’d do there, Colin,” Daniel said. “It’s whether we should accept. If we do, it’s like signing a deal with the devil.”
“Why do you think this Barnes guy’s the devil?”
“Because he wants to replace people with robots,” Jasper said.
“That’s not exactly it, Jas,” Daniel cut in. “Barnes said companies come to him and pay for it themselves.”
“If they’re seeking him out, they must need it,” Colin added. “Take my two offices, for example. If I could replace the package loaders with robots instead of people, I wouldn’t even think twice. Half my staff complain about the lifting.”
“But would you replace the people at the front desks? The ones meeting clients and handing over packages? Would you swap them for robots?”
Colin paused, then answered.
“Maybe not yet. I prefer the personal touch, honestly. But if they guaranteed it’d save me money, why not? And obviously, if they guaranteed they’d do the same job.”
“They’d do it, Colin. Even more work. And they wouldn’t whine about salaries, insurance, vacations, sick days, all that,” Daniel said.
“Well, boys, then I’m all in. No point pretending otherwise, sorry. That’s the future. Yeah, it’s not great for people, but what’s so great about working the same job for thirty years? Anyone who thinks that way deserves their fate.”
“Jas, Colin’s right,” Daniel said.
“Brother, I could tell from the start you were ready to jump on board. I’m the one still figuring it out. I get you, and I won’t judge. But a broker in a park?”
“A broker? What are you selling? Dreams?”
“I’m already doing that, Colin,” Jasper said with a smirk. “But Barnes wants me to sell properties in the park.”
“Whoa, is this place so big you’re selling real estate there?”
“Just the part we were in was the size of our town, Colin. And beyond that, you could see dozens more like it. Barnes has got a massive chunk of land.”
Colin hesitated before continuing, his eyes widening as something clicked.
“I remember seeing him in articles before, but I never imagined he was that rich. Yeah, a nice guy. Short, chubby, cheerful face.”
“He’s got money, but I got the sense he lacks power,” Daniel said. “Corporations work with him, maybe even the government. But they see him as just a manufacturer. They could take him out tomorrow.”
“Take him out?” Colin was slightly stunned.
“Yeah. Call it an accident. But first, they’d take his people, then all his designs. Anyone could build a robot with the right parts. He’s got them. It’s only a matter of time before someone steals them.”
Jasper’s logic made sense. It wasn’t common, but it happened to successful people.
“What about the artificial intelligence in the robots?” Colin was clearly paying attention.
“I reckon Barnes doesn’t trust his own people handling the robots’ intellect,” Daniel said.
“That’s the most interesting part, from what I’m hearing,” Colin replied.
“Exactly. And for the most crucial part—the intelligence—he wants Daniel. Not just to follow his team, but to be above them.”
Colin set his glass down and clapped his hands.
“And you’re sitting here mulling it over? Are you guys insane? When you see him, ask if he needs a shipping guy. I’d sell my soul—or whatever he wants—on the spot.”